Eliza Lloyd

This is quite a short story taking place over I believe just a single day and night. (But don't worry, that's all these two strangers needed to fall deeply in love!...) It starts off with the heroine already the newly acquired mistress of the hero, so I expected it to hit the ground running, but it actually took a surprising amount of time for much steaminess to occur. There's kind of an odd dynamic where they're both attracted to the other, but also fight over some made up power dynamic like it's a matter of life and death. Also the heroine wants him because he might finally be the protector to give her her first orgasm, but she also fights tooth and nail against receiving that pleasure that she had wanted from him. ?? And despite never having felt any sexual pleasure (even at her own hand if I recall right), she's super amazing at being a courtesan and men pay obscene amounts for a month with her. And also her specialty is apparently just making the men spend as quickly as possible... And also she has a lot of control issues for someone in her line of work. She's kind of paid to do whatever the protector wants, but she also has very definite ideas about what will and won't happen and when. ? It all seemed quite conflicting, like 'It's A, but also B, but also not A', like, what...?? Even when they finally got around to the sex scenes there was still such a focus on each of them trying to snatch the reins of control, that it didn't feel all that sexy to me. (I'm not inherently against power play, this just seemed like kind of a weird version of it). And I definitely didn't believe they were in love and going to live happily ever after in the end! I wasn't impressed with this, but it's a new to me author, so I'll still try the second book in the series.… (meer)

Peak by Eliza Lloyd introduces us to Claire, who is an expert mountain climber, and Paul who is a world famous super model. They have a somewhat complicated romance amidst a reality television show where Claire is preparing celebrities to climb Mount Everest. Both characters are dealing with personal struggles. Claire lost her best friend on her last attempt at Everest, and Paul is estranged from his twin brother and dealing with a stalker. Most of the story takes place in England.

I was attracted to this book by the interesting sounding storyline. I had never read a romance involving mountain climbing before and the reality tv angle was intriguing to me. I will admit that I was not a fan of Claire for most of the book. She had been through an awful, life changing traumatic event and I still found it hard to feel for her. I loved Paul. He was so sweet with her throughout the entire book and at times I had a hard time understanding why. Perhaps I needed to know more about what she was like before this story started because he had been interested in her long before the events in this book began. By the end, I was feeling better about them as a couple and could see their future.

There was just enough description of mountain climbing to be interesting and the reality show added just enough conflict. Paul's stalker storyline could have added more suspense, but was kind of anticlimactic.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and will seek out the second book in the series. My sincere thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it.… (meer)

LUSCIOUS by Sabrina York
Delightful and delicious romp with a naïve but passionate young woman trying to escape a betrothal who thinks being deflowered will suffice. Luckily Tildy found a considerate lover lover the passionate night she spent with Dev. This one made me smile and laugh and was quite fun to read. Her leaving before he woke made me wonder when and how they would get together again.

ONE SCANDALOUS NIGHT by Maggi Andersen
Bella’s father has plans to marry her off to a much older and rather horrible man in spite of her refusal. One of her goals before this might happen is to find funds to keep an orphanage she established going and her sights are set on Derrick, Lord Eaglestone’s money to achieve this. There is definite interest on both parts but the path is not easy to achieve their HEA.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by Victoria Vane
Lady Diana has been married ten years to someone that is deplorable. Ludovic Devere is a hedonistic man who has few illusions about love. Their interactions are intriguing. I was left hanging and wanted to know what would happen next. This is one story in a series and now I want to read the rest.

UNDER A SILVER MOON by Hildie Mcqueen
A Western this time - in this story town apothecary owner Camille and Lucas the deputy strike sparks off one another. When Camille goes missing Lucas is off to the rescue. A nice addition to the anthology.

MY DEAR MR. FORRESTER by Eliza Lloyd
Widow Char Dunlevee is looking for husbands for her sisters. Seeing an old friend, Joshua Forrester, she feels he might be perfect for one of them. Little does she know that he has his sights set on her instead. This was a fun read with a scandalous surprise or two.

WHAT HE WANTS by Lynne Connolly
This one was a bit grittier and perhaps truer to life with Widow and silver thread businesswoman Annie Cathcart having to decide whether or not to marry her cold-fish of a landlord to save her home and place of business or try to find an alternative. One night with Gerald Dersingham, Earl of Carbrooke was a nice respite but could it be more? This made me think about the lot of women in the past and made me thankful I live in this day and age.

PLEASURE HOUSE BALL by Suzi Love
Brenton, Lord Mallory is off to a scandalous courtesan ball at the behest of his friends. While there he spies childhood friend Lady Lillian Armstrong. Her marriage was one of pain in more ways than one – she is looking for a bit of pleasure to wipe those bad days from her mind. Brenton finds more than he bargained for as they explore one another after leaving the ball.

Widows and virgins are the heroines while widowers, lawmen, ex-soldiers and lords provide their happily ever after’s. This is a diverse anthology that will provide something for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Romance Beckons Cooperative for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.… (meer)